Tostig Godwinson

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Tostig Godwinson (1026? – September 25, 1066) was an Anglo-Saxon earl of Northumbria and brother of King Harold II of England, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Tostig was born the third son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex and Kent, and Gytha Thorkelsdóttir. In 1051, he married Judith, the daughter of Count Baldwin IV, half-sister of Baldwin V of Flanders, and aunt of Matilda who married William the Conqueror. This made him William's uncle-in-law.

[edit] Earldom

That same year, 1051, Tostig and his father were banished from Northumbria to which they forcefully returned in 1052. Three years later in 1055, Tostig became the Earl of Northumbria upon the death of Earl Siward.

Tostig appears to have governed well until 1063 when he became involved in the confused local politics of Northumbria. In late 1063 or early 1064 Tostig had Gamal, son of Orm, and Ulf, son of Dolfin, assassinated when they visited him under safe conduct.[1] Those who violated his authority were severely punished, which made him extremely unpopular. Also, the Vita Edwardi, otherwise sympathetic to Tostig, states that he had 'repressed [the Northumbrians] with the heavy yoke of his rule'.

On 3 October 1065 the thegns of Yorkshire and the rest of Yorkshire descended on York and occupied the city. They killed Tostig's officials and supporters, then declared Tostig outlawed for his unlawful action and sent for Morcar, younger brother of Edwin, Earl of Mercia. The Northern rebels marched south to press their case with King Edward. They were joined at Northampton by Earl Edwin and his forces. There they were met by Earl Harold, who came to negotiate and did not bring his forces. He had been sent by King Edward to open negotiations with the rebels. After Harold had spoken with the rebels at Northampton, he realised that Tostig would not be able to retain Northumbria. When he returned to Oxford where the royal council was to meet on 28 October, he had probably already made up his mind. Harold persuaded the King to agree to the demands of the rebels. Tostig was outlawed a short time later, possibly early in November, because he refused to accept his deposition as commanded by Edward. This led to the fatal confrontation and enmity between the Godwinsons.

Tostig then took ship with his family and some loyal thegns and took refuge with his father-in-law, Count Baldwin V. He even attempted to form an alliance with William who himself claimed the throne of England. Baldwin provided him with a fleet and he landed in the Isle of Wight in May 1066 where he collected money and provisions, and he raided the coast as far as Sandwich. King Harold called out land and naval forces and Tostig retreated. He moved north and after an unsuccessful attempt to get his brother Gyrth to join him he raided Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The earls Edwin and Morcar defeated him decisively, and deserted by his men, he fled to his sworn brother, King Malcolm III of Scotland. Tostig spent the summer of 1066 in Scotland. He made contact in some way with King Harald III Hardrada of Norway and persuaded him to invade England. With Hardrada's aid, Tostig sailed up the Humber and defeated Earls Morcar and Edwin at Gate Fulford. Hardrada's army invaded York.

[edit] Death

On September 25, 1066, King Harold II of England (Tostig's brother) marched his army from the south of England where they were awaiting the Normans up to York and halted the Norwegian invasion at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, in which Tostig and Harald III were both killed. After the death of Tostig, his two sons took refuge in Norway, while his wife Judith married Duke Welf of Bavaria. It is believed that after Stamford Bridge his body was taken to York and buried in the cathedral church.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Harold: The Last Anglo-Saxon King, by Ian W. Walker, 1997.
  2. ^ Accurate Description of the Cathedral and Metropolical Church of St. Peter, by Francis Drake 1786

[edit] Tostig in Non-Fiction Books

Popular (as opposed to scholarly) non-fiction books that cover Tostig's life and role in history include:

[edit] Family Trees

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Further Info

  • Tostig, by Da Cassowary (Sam H) & Lenny
Preceded by
Siward		 Earl of Northumbria
1055–1065		 Succeeded by
Morcar
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